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Composite Information Technology Grant (CITG)

Summary

To provide schools with greater flexibility in managing their own resources in accordance with their needs and to reduce administrative work, the following grants have been merged to form a recurrent CITG as from the 2004/05 school year and put under the Operating Expenses Block Grant (OEBG) / Expanded Operating Expenses Block Grant (EOEBG) for aided schools or Expanded Subject and Curriculum Block Grant (ESCBG) for government schools -

(a) Recurrent grant of the Multimedia Computers for Primary School (MMPS) Project;

(b) Recurrent grant of the IT in Education (ITEd) Project;

(c) Incentive grant for extending the opening hours of school's computer facilities; and

(d) Cash grant for employing on-site technical support personnel or hiring technical support services from a contractor (TSS).

To cater for the advancement in technology and digital learning, provisions for maintenance of IT facilities procured by government funds under the following projects are subsumed into the CITG starting from the 2006/07 school year by phases.

Effective from the 2006/07 school year

(i) Information Technology in Education (ITEd) projects;

(ii) Information Technology Learning Centres (ITLCs);

(iii) Multimedia Learning Centres (MMLCs);

Effective from the 2007/08 school year

(iv) projection systems for Computer subject in secondary and special schools;

(v) computer equipment in the Computer Room(s) in secondary and special schools; and

(vi) IT equipment in the Computer Laboratory in ex-prevocational schools.

Taking into account the findings from the survey conducted by an independent contractor on the expenditures of ITEd related activities in public sector schools in March – June 2008, the EDB reviewed the ambit and provision of CITG and decided to relax its usage and increase its provision with effect from the 2008/09 school year to cope with schools' changing needs.

Ambit of the Grant

In pursuit of the spirit of various block grants, and to allow greater flexibility in resources planning according to respective school-based ITEd development plans, schools can flexibly deploy their resources to meet their operational needs in the following areas:

(d) employment of technical support personnel / hire of TSS from service provider;

(e) extension of opening hours for school's IT facilities;

(f) hire of maintenance services for school's IT facilities procured by government funds; and

(g) upgrading and replacement of school's IT facilities.

Grant Levels

CITG levels are subject to annual adjustment in accordance with the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index (CCPI). Changes in school's category and number of approved operating classes will also affect the entitlement of each school. Individual schools will be informed of their entitlements vide the allocation advice/remittance advice.

Accounting and Monitoring Arrangement

CITG is a constituent grant under the OEBG / EOEBG / ESCBG. In this respect, aided schools should observe the rules on usage of OEBG / EOEBG mentioned in relevant EDB circular memoranda and user guides, whilst government schools should observe closely related circulars/memoranda on ESCBG issued from time to time for government schools. In line with the existing rules, schools may retain the surplus balance up to 12 months' provision of OEBG / EOEBG / ESCBG. Schools are advised to make good resources planning to meet their expenses according to their priorities. For accounting and auditing purposes, schools should keep a separate ledger account to reflect all incomes and expenditures chargeable to the CITG. Also, schools are encouraged to relate the schools' IT budget to the annual school-based development plans and publish the audited financial statement in their School Reports.

Schools are reminded to adhere to the related principles of handling schools' finance matters and follow the proper procedures for procurement, accounting and financial control, including EDB Circular No. 4/2013 and the School Administration Guide (for aided schools), or the 'Stores and Procurement Regulations', EDB Internal Circulars No. 2/2013, No. 3/2013 & No. 4/2013 (for government schools), and any other related updates issued to schools from time to time.

As regards the arrangement for TSS, schools may directly employ TSS personnel as appropriate and all payments relating to the employment of TSS personnel such as salary, contribution to the mandatory provident fund (MPF), long service payment/severance pay and any statutory benefits conferred by the Employment Ordinance are all included in the grant. Schools can flexibly set the qualification requirements and employment package for the required TSS personnel according to their own needs and the prevailing market condition. When conducting the recruitment exercise, schools should observe the School Administration Guide (for aided schools) or EDB Internal Circular No. 6/2010 (for government schools), and any other relevant guidelines related to human resources management. Alternatively, schools may consider hiring TSS from service providers. Please ensure the procedures carried out are in compliance with relevant procurement guidelines.

Enquiry

For enquiries on CITG, please contact IT in Education Section at 3698 3595.